1st Avenue East Village

Tune up

There's something to be admired in the directness of a piano - rather than strum or bow, the player need only tap the key to produce the desired note. The Lower East Side is place for such directness, New York unfiltered, and like the piano, the richness of its music can be attributed to the minor keys being between the major ones. There are plenty of ritzy shops and restaurants, but mixed into these are hidden gem gin joints and the hippest art galleries in the city. Our young host has gone for a piano lounge vibe, a virtuoso idea, executed with the deft hand of a maestro.

Player piano

Our host works in technology but hasn't lost his musical ear, and the idea of an apartment like this one has been stuck in his head for years. For musical bona fides, look no further than his extensive instrument collection, featuring some impressive guitars, which hangs on the wall of the apartment.

Minuet in Awesome

As soon as you walk in you'll be greeted by contrasting tones, reminiscent of the interior and exterior of a piano. Slotted wood ceilings offer dark wood on broad white swaths to give an expansive feeling that runs down the length of the open apartment. Let the notes of leather, wood and stone carry you to the kitchen, where the table gives the appearance of being suspended by taut rope, like piano wire, one of several rope-based furniture pieces sure to strike the right chord.

Let's call the kitchen "baby grand" – it’s compact but just right for putting together a casual meal. You'll find the bed tucked away in a corner, and at the other end of the apartment, a fortissimo bathroom that combines sleek stone tiles and nickel fixtures reminiscent of cool jazz with classical tones of white porcelain.

Moonlight Sonata

The Lower East Side thrives at night and with restaurants at every price range you're sure to find something harmonious with your tastes. Try the Meatball Shop or This Little Piggy for something low-key, or, if you're in the mood for the experimental try the gastroscientific WD-50, which is to restaurants what John Cage was to the piano. The nearby L train means it's just one change for any stop in the city, so your song can linger long into the night.